Garments for children



Feb. 21, 1967 E. MEYERS ETAL 3,304,556

GARMENTS FOR CHILDREN Filed Aug. 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T1 -1 TTORNEY Feb. 21, 1967 E. MEYERS ETAL GARMENTS FOR CHILDREN 6 2 3 5 mm m t m w Q n w TM N h m N 4 m 6 w Q T S N N K m I fi w @M 2 Y 3,304,556 GARMENTS FOR CHILDREN Eugene Meyers, Los Angeles, Calif., and Jack Y. Powell, Morganton, N.C., assignors to Charles Piudyck, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 389,641 4 Claims. (Cl. 2--69.5)

This invention relates to garments for children.

While the invention may have application in other connections, particular mention is made in the application to a garment of general utility such as a baby bunting, that is, a garment for an infant, which completely covers the infant to protect the major portion of the body of the infant.

Such garments generally have but a short useful life, not because of the wearability of the garment itself, but by reason of the manner in which the child rapidly outgrows the garment. Thus, a very short time after the garment commences its use for the infant, the garment no longer has utility for the purpose for which it was obtained; a larger size is necessary. The infant lengthens to such an extent that the size of the bag provided may no longer be used without crowding the infants feet and legs, and the garment normally would be discarded entirely.

It is an object of the invention to provide a structure for the type of garment here considered, wherein the garment may have its normal functions as a sleeping bag or bunting until the time when the infant has attained such size as to outgrow the garment, whereupon the garment lends itself easily to conversion, by a simple manipulation, into a robe or similar garment.

It is an object of the invention to provide a structure wherein it has utility as a sleeping bag or bunting for an infant, but has a section of the bag attached to a main body portion so that, by simply withdrawing a thread, the structure is quickly converted to provide a garment such as a robe which may be worn as if it had been manufactured initially for that purpose,

It is an object of the invention to provide, in the structure of a garment such as has utility as a bunting for an infant, means for opening up an access passage to the interior of such garment, as, for instance, by slide fastener means or the like, wherein such slide fastener means may include a separator so that, when the garment has been changed from its initial form of a bunting to a robe, the separator then functions positively as a separator without further change in the garment.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth hereinafter, or will be apparent from the description and the drawings, in which are illustrated embodiments exemplifying the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction, or any particular arrangement of parts, or any particular application of any such construction or arrangement of parts, or any specific method of operation or use, or any of the various details thereof, even where specifically shown and described herein, as the same may be modified in various particulars, or may be applied in many varied relations, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, of which the exemplifying embodiments, herein shown and described, are intended only to be illustrative, and only for the purpose of complying with the requirements of the Statutes for disclosure of an operative embodiment, but not to show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout, and in which are disclosed such practical constructions,

nited States Patent 3,3fi4,55fi Patented Feb. 21, 1967 ice FIG. 1 is an elevational view, to reduced scale, of a garment embodying features of the invention, and showing the assembly where all of the parts are included, including a construction wherein slide fastener means having a separator is provided and made to function;

FIG. 2 is a detail elevational view, but enlarged from the scale of FIG. 1, but only of a portion of the lower half of the garment shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the form the garment takes when it is opened up at its front, by moving the slide fastener means to its lowermost position, with the separator opened, but without removal of the bag from the assembly, and yet providing for easy access for the feet of the child to be positioned within and to be guarded by the bag;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, but to a reduced scale, the View being exploded" and showing the two distinct sections of the garment separated, or as they appear before they have been united into the single garment, the type of slide fastener here shown not necessarily being of the separator type;

FIG. 4 is a detail cross sectional view, substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, and to an enlarged scale, some of the parts being shown in elevation, the illustration depicting the manner in which the two sections of the garment are secured together, and the location of the separator of the separable fastener means in that assembly;

FIG. 5 is a view, substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 3, but substantially to the same scale as FIG. 4, but again as an exploded view, showing the disposition of the parts of the garment after they have been separated from each other;

FIG. 6 is a detail elevational view, to enlarged scale, of the bottom portion of the garment shown in FIG. 3, but with the parts assembled, and the slide fastener means closed, the view being of a portion of the modified structure shown in FIG. 3, but only of the portion involving the assembly of the two parts of the garment at the posi tion of their assembly;

FIG. 7 is a detail elevational view of a portion of the garment as shown in FIG. 6, but now with the slide fastener means opened, as in FIG. 2, showing the form the garment takes when such slide fastener means in this construction has been opened up substantially; and

FIG. 8 is a detail cross-sectional view, to substantially the same scale as that of FIGS. 4 and 5, but on line 88 of FIG. 6, illustrating the manner of attachment of the two parts of the garment of FIG. 6.

In the structure shown on the drawings (FIG. 1), garment 10 may have the appearance of a robe imparted to its top portion 12, which may have a pair of front panels 14 and 16, and a rear panel 18, with sleeves 2i inset between front panels 14 and 16 and rear panel 18. A collar 21 may be attached at the upper ends of panels 14, 1'6 and 18 and in association with sleeves 20. The garment may be made entirely of substantially the same material throughout, or of any desired combinations of materials, which may be any of the usual suitable materials for the purpose of such sleeping bags or buntings.

Edges 22 and 24 of the respective panels 14 and 16 may have suitable edge binding 25 secured thereto in any suitable manner. The tapes 26 of a slide fastener 27 may be assembled at edges 22 and 24 either with binding 25, or otherwise. In the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a separator 31 of the usual construction may be made a part of slide fastener 27, at the bottom of the opening 31, and of slide fastener 27. Separator 30 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is spaced above the bottom edges 32 which form the bottommost boundary of panels 14, 16 and 13. Suitable shirring 34 may be provided to give the bunting a fitted effect; likewise, other ornamental efiects may be utilized. Sleeves 20 may be constructed according to any desired form.

Below edges 32 of top portion 12 is a bag or foot section 36. This foot section is constructed and provided so as to form a covering for the feet of the child when the garment is worn. Details of its construction are not of importance, except that the construction provide encircling walls bounding a closed bottom 37, and an open upper end 38 bounded by an upper edge 39.

To construct garment to function as a sleeping bag or bunting, foot section 36 and panels 14, 16 and 18 of top portion 12 are secured together by a line of stitching 40; in this case, stitching 40 is made a line of chain stitching which is easily unraveled or withdrawn from its stitched engagement when the moment for that purpose arrives.

First, however, a suitable binding 42 may be applied at bottom edges 32 of panels 14, 16 and 18, by means such as stitching 43, so that, when stitching 40 is in place, a portion 44 of the binding will be left exposed, in order to provide a proper ornamental effect for the garment. Bottom edges 32 may be turned back into a fold 45 before attachment of binding 42 by means of stitch-ing 43. Thus, fold 45 will assist in providing a finished look to the garment at succeeding stages in the use of the garment.

Stitching 40 may be located in any suitable relationship, either above, below, or coincident with stitching 43. In the illustration, stitching 40 is \between the two portions of stitching 43. In any case, stitching 40 would be well below the end of slide fastener 27 as determined by separator 30, and is just below the top or upper edge 39 of the bag section. Thus, edges 32 and binding 42 will appear as if draped over upper edge 39 of foot section 36 which will be completely concealed by reason of this method of construction. Separator 30 will have limited capabilities for opening up panels 14 and 16 from each other, but these panels will not be capable of moving completely away from each other by reason of the retention of those panels as secured to foot section 36 by stitching 40. The slide fastener may be opened to its lowermost position, and separator 30 may be opened, at which time an infant may be positioned in the inner confines of the garments, and its arms inserted through sleeves 20, and its feet into foot section 36, and then the garment may be closed by manipulating the separator, and then the slide fastener, to close up opening 31.

However, when the infant has outgrown the sleeping garment, it will have become tight and uncomfortable, and usually would be discarded. At this time, by reason of the construction imparted to garment 10, all that is necessary is that, by grasping the proper end 46 of chain stitching 40 which is of the usual type of such stitching, and pulling it continuously, stitching 40 will be removed completely. Instantly, there will result complete separation of upper edge 39 of foot section 36 from bottom edges 32 of top portion 12. Bag section 36 will fall away from top portion 12, and leave top portion 12 to serve as an independent garment. Now separator 30 may be opened up in-the usual manner of separators, and top portion 12 will then function as a robe 47, where the slide fastener may be used for closing up the front of the garment after the garment has been donned by the infant. Binding 42 will form an ornamental edging for the final robe.

Stitching 43 is separate and distinct from stitching 40. Pulling out of stitching 40 does not affect the retention of binding 42 by stitching 43, and the ornamental effect of binding 42 on the bottom edge of the robe after stitching 40 has been removed, Stitching 40 may go through binding 42, but the attachment of binding 42 to bottom edges 32 is the function of the separate lines of stitching 43.

In FIG. 2 is illustrated the form the garment assumes when slide fastener 27 has been moved to its lowermost position, and separator 30 has been opened. Thus, al-

though the front of the garment has been opened up to receive the body of the infant, bag section 36 remains attached to the garment.

In the structure shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8, a garment is shown wherein the slide fastener does not include a separator. Regardless of this fact, the constructional details are substantially the same. When pull stitching 40 is withdrawn in the structure of FIGS. 3 and 6, bag section 36 falls away (FIGS. 3 and 5). As shown in FIG. 8, the slide fastener elements may extend down to and approximately terminate at folded edge 50, without the addition of a separator. Stitching 40 then will have to be guided carefully in passing over the secured together parts of slide fastener 27. The construction in that case is shown in FIG. 7, where the garment has been opened up to show the manner of access, despite the construction used for attachment of foot section 36 to top portion 12, and with the slide fastener holding the edges of the panels 14 and 16 of top portion 12 against separation from each other at bottom edges 32. It is perfectly feasible to use a garment of this nature, even after stitching 40 has been removed, and the lower end sections of panels 14 and 16 are held together by the single stop 51 of the slide fastener, which stop is not intended to be removed. In such case, the infant merely steps over the bound together section 52 at stop 51, where the slide fastener ties together both panels 14 .and 16.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular constructions, and in the methods of use and construction, and in specific details thereof, hereinbefore set forth, without substantially departing from the invention intended to be defined herein, the specific description being merely of embodiments capable of illustrating certain principles of the invention.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A convertible garment comprising a childs sleeping garment including a body portion made of fabric, and arm portions, and a bottom sack portion to be assembled with the body portion, the arm portions being fitted and secured to the body portion, the body portion being formed to envelop the body of a child and providing a vertically extending opening for use in placing the garment upon the body of the child, the vertically extending opening having opposed edges, the bottommost portion of the body portion being folded back on itself, means for securing the folded back portion of the body portion in the folded back position to provide a finished bottom edge for the body portion, the sack being constructed to provide an upwardly opening entry thereinto and to provide means for receiving and retaining the feet of the child in fully covered condition, slide fastener means secured to said opposed edges, a binding on the folded back portion and having an end portion extending and apparent just below the finished bottom edge, the binding being secured on the folded back portion by the means securing the folded back portion in the folded back position, the sack and the body portions being assembled in overlapped relation with said bottom edge just slightly below the upwardly opening entry to the sack portion, and stitching passing through the two layers of the body portion at the folded back portion, the binding and the sack portion, the stitching being readily removable merely by pulling on a free end thereof so that the sack and body portions may be separated completely, whereupon the body portion may function as a completely separate garment, the slide fastener means extending continuously along the opposed edges and when the stitching is in place terminating on said edges immediately above and without crossing the position of the stitching.

2. A convertible garment comprising a childs sleeping garment including a body portion made of fabric, and arm portions, and a bottom sack portion to be assembled with the body portion, the arm portions being fitted and secured to the body portion, the body portion being formed to envelop the body of a child and providing a vertically 5 extending opening for use in placing the garment upon the body of the child, the vertically extending opening having opposed edges, the bottommost portion of the body portion being folded back on itself, means for securing the folded back portion of the body portion in the folded back position to provide a finished bottom edge for the body portion, the sack being constructed to provide an upwardly opening entry thereinto and to provide means for receiving and retaining the feet of the child in fully covered condition, slide fastener means secured to said opposed edges, a binding on the folded back portion and having an end portion extending and apparent just below the finished bottom edge, the binding being secured on the folded back portion by the means securing the folded back portion in the folded back position, the sack and the body portions being assembled in overlapped relation with said bottom edge just slightly below the upwardly opening entry to the sack portion, the slide fastener means extending continuously along the opposed edges and terminating on the binding and immediately adjacent the finished bottom edge in the area of overlap of the sack and body portions when the sack and body portions are assembled in the overlapped relation, the means securing the folded back portion in the folded back position also securing the binding and the ends of the slide fastener means to the folded back portion, and stitching passing through the two layers of the body portion at the folded back portion, the binding, the sack portion and the ends of the slide fastener means at the folded back portions, the stitching being readily removable merely by pulling on a free end thereof so that the sack and body portions may be separated completely, whereupon the body portion may function as a completely separate garment.

3. The convertible garment of claim 2, the slide fastener means at its lowermost portion on said opposed edges being permanently secured at all time including when the stitching is pulled out.

4. The convertible garment of claim 2, the slide fastener means, after the stitching has been removed, being completely separable.

References Cited by the Examiner JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. H. H. HUNTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CONVERTIBLE GARMENT COMPRISING A CHILD''S SLEEPING GARMENT INCLUDING A BODY PORTION MADE OF FABRIC, AND ARM PORTIONS, AND A BOTTOM SACK PORTION TO BE ASSEMBLED WITH THE BODY PORTION, THE ARM PORTIONS BEING FITTED AND SECURED TO THE BODY PORTION, THE BODY PORTION BEING FORMED TO ENVELOP THE BODY OF A CHILD AND PROVIDING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING OPENING FOR USE IN PLACING THE GARMENT UPON THE BODY OF THE CHILD, THE VERTICALLY EXTENDING OPENING HAVING OPPOSED EDGES, THE BOTTOMMOST PORTION OF THE BODY PORTION BEING FOLDED BACK ON ITSELF, MEANS FOR SECURING THE FOLDED BACK PORTION OF THE BODY PORTION IN THE FOLDED BACK POSITION TO PROVIDE A FINISHED BOTTOM EDGE FOR THE BODY PORTION, THE SACK BEING CONSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AN UPWARDLY OPENING ENTRY THEREINTO AND TO PROVIDE MEANS FOR RECEIVING AND RETAINING THE FEET OF THE CHILD IN FULLY COVERED CONDITION, SLIDE FASTENER MEANS SECURED TO SAID OPPOSED EDGES, A BINDING ON THE FOLDED BACK PORTION AND HAVING AN END PORTION EXTENDING AND APPARENT JUST BELOW THE FINISHED BOTTOM EDGE, THE BINDING BEING SECURED ON THE FOLDED BACK PORTION BY THE MEANS SECURING THE FOLDED BACK PORTION IN THE FOLDED BACK POSITION, THE SACK AND THE BODY PORTIONS BEING ASSEMBLED IN OVERLAPPED RELATION WITH SAID BOTTOM EDGE JUST SLIGHTLY BELOW THE UPWARDLY OPENING ENTRY TO THE SACK PORTION, AND STITCHING PASSING THROUGH THE TWO LAYERS OF THE BODY PORTION AT THE FOLDED BACK PORTION, THE BINDING AND THE SACK PORTION, THE STITCHING BEING READILY REMOVABLE MERELY BY PULLING ON A FREE END THEREOF SO THAT THE SACK AND BODY PORTIONS MAY BE SEPARATED COMPLETELY, WHEREUPON THE BODY PORTION MAY FUNCTION AS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE GARMENT, THE SLIDE FASTENER MEANS EXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY ALONG THE OPPOSED EDGES AND WHEN THE STITCHING IS IN PLACE TERMINATING ON SAID EDGES IMMEDIATELY ABOVE AND WITHOUT CROSSING THE POSITION OF THE STITCHING. 